It was 70 years to the day, on the evening of 2nd August 1943, that the British 78th Infantry Division succeeded in capturing the 2,000 foot mountain top fortress of Centuripe just to the west of Mt Etna. Following two days of assaults on the village by 5 battalions of 11th and 36th Brigade, the three battalions of 38th (Irish) Brigade were asked to commit to a frontal assault with the Irish Rifles (2 LIR) attacking three hill tops on the left flank, the Faughs (1 RIrF) attacking through the cemetery and the Skins (6 Innisks) taking a direct approach up a 100 foot sheer cliff. By 0330 on the morning of 3rd August, the Skins reported that the town was “clear of enemy”. Having been to the area myself, I certainly understand General Montgomery saying that “..he doubted that any other division in the Army could have carried out this operation successfully..” I shall take a few moments to pause to reflect on the efforts of my father and his comrades .. The war diary entry of the Irish Brigade for 2nd/3rd August can be read here. http://www.irishbrigade.co.uk/pages/eyewitness-accounts/irish-brigade-in-sicily-transcribed/centuripe-transcribed.php best
Regimental Diaries 49th LAA Rgt.R,A 38 Bgde 78th Div On 3 Aug RHQ moved to 4 miles west of Centuripe. The gun tps were in their usual role of protecting gun areas Ron
Lovely post Richard. Yes certainly a day to reflect on their efforts and be proud. 56 Recce diary 2 August South of Catenanuova 14.00 hours CO visits C Squadron who were again pushing out patrols on the Div, right c/flank with great success Passages from the book Algiers to Austria by Cyril Ray: By dusk on August 2 the Inniskillings had a foothold in the southern edge of Centuripe, after being closely engaged all day, and by first light on August 3rd the Royal Irish Fusiliers, after four hours of bloody fighting in the narrow, twisting cobbled streets, were through the town and pushing out patrols towards the north. It had been an infantry battle, worthy of the great mountain fighters of Tunisia, and the other arms were quick to acknowledge the fact. The gunners had given splendid support, handling their guns over a cruel country into unbelievable positions, but a gunner officers' diary reads "this is an infantry story". And 56 Recce, hot on the heels of the Argylls at the end of the battle, found itself in Centuripe before it knew it: "Thank God", said the squadron commander, and "we congratulated the infantry from the depths of our hearts", noted one of his subalterns in his diary. General de Guingand, Montgomery's chief of staff, had watched the attack from the hilltop to the south: "it appeared too much", he records in his book, "to ask any troops to undertake, yet.. this fine division climbed the heights..It was an imposing sight and will for ever spell valour in the records of the 78th." The Army Commander himself was quoted in General Everleigh's order of the day "a wonderful feat of arms and he doubted if any division in his army could have carried out this operation successfully".
good day bexlev84,yesterday,03:24pm.re:centuripe,2end/3erd august 1943,i have read your fine post of a historical battle in ww2,there efforts were reconised by there commander in chief.hy praise to all the men in that battle.you must be very proud having your fathers history.i trust he survived.thank you for posting,regards bernard85
My Dad had a slightly different perspective of proceedings when he entered Centuripe on the morning of 3rd August. .“When we took Centuripe, I followed closely behind and entered the town in the early morning of its capture. I was not allowed to progress beyond the town walls as the battalion had to clear up pockets of resistance. Dysentery had me in its grip and I was in desperate need of a latrine. I knocked at the nearest house and stumbled out: ‘Scusati, il gabinetto?’ The lady went into the house and brought out a brown earthenware pot and held it out to me. I shook my head, saying: ‘Grazie.’ I saw a young man and approaching him I said: ‘Dove si trove il gabbinetto.’ Looking puzzled, he motioned me to follow him. We went to the town wall and climbed down steps and a steep path. There before us under the walls was a vast culvert lined with metal. With municipal pride he pointed to it and said: ‘Il gabbinetto.’ I thankfully made use of it despite the terrible smell. Hygiene and sanitation were primitive in central Sicily. Most people had only the earthenware pot which was emptied into the vast dump under the town walls. I suspect that the open fields were more frequently used.”
